Vegetables And Fruits For Dogs
As strange as it may seem, vegetables and fruits can also be part of our best friend’s diet. Even so, dogs are mainly carnivores, and we must never forget that a healthy diet for them should have meat as their main source of food.
Vegetables and Fruits for Dogs: Is the Dog Omnivorous?
What is certain is that, unlike wolves, the dog has more genes dedicated to the digestion of starches and cereals. And that’s because dogs come from wolves that fed on leftovers of animal and plant origin.
In fact, most dog food on the market contains a lot of vegetables and cereals. Even so, they are treated and, in the case of fresh vegetables and fruits, only a small percentage, less than 10%, can be included in the animal’s diet. We must remember that even though a dog can eat these foods, its digestive tract and jaw are made to eat meat.
Vegetables for dogs
There are several vegetables suitable for dogs that can make their diet more interesting and improve their nutritional level. Among vegetables, green leaves stand out: spinach or cabbage have a high amount of fiber and antioxidant properties, and can be consumed both raw and cooked.
On the other hand, carrots are a food that can be a lot of fun for the animal, who can use it in a similar way to a bone. Feeding dogs bones is not recommended by many professionals, and carrots can have similar benefits for our pet’s dental health.
Beans, peas or even celery are also not dangerous for our animal, which can benefit from the antioxidant properties and richness of vitamins that these foods have.
Among the most interesting vegetables and fruits for dogs, pumpkin stands out, as this cooked vegetable can be very beneficial in preventing constipation, due to its high fiber content. Potatoes can also be consumed, but it is essential to cook them well before, due to their concentration of solanine, a toxic present in the green parts that is also dangerous for humans.
fruit for dogs
In the case of fruits, some red fruits, such as strawberries, have good antioxidant properties, while apricots and peaches can improve your intestinal transit. However, we must always remove the pit.
Watermelon and melon are very interesting foods, but we must remove the seeds so that they are not a danger to our animal. Pear or apple can also be included in moderation among the vegetables and fruits for dogs.
Some tropical fruits such as pineapple, papaya or mango can be beneficial to our dog’s health, but he cannot overeat them.
be careful when experimenting
Even though vegetables and fruits for dogs can be interesting in our pet’s diet, many professionals question their need. Therefore, it is advisable to use only safe, well washed, pitted and seedless foods.
